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W. F. MORTON.

- METHOD OF FORMING COMPRESSED SPOKE TENONS. No 380,728.

Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

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W. F. MORTON.

METHOD OF FORMING COMPRESSED SPOKE TEINONS.

No. 380,728. Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

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METHOD OF FORMING COMPRESSED SPOKE TENONS. No. 380,728.

Patented Apr. 10, 1888 m; VGA) an 1 M 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Apr. 10, L888.

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METHOD OF FORMING COMPRESSED SPOKE TBNONS. No. 380,728. I

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W. F. MORTON. METHOD OF FORMING COMPRESSED SPOKE TENONS. No; 380,728. Patented Apr. 10,1888.

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-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM F. MORTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HOLCOMB BROTHERS 85 CO., OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF FORMING COMPRESSED SPOKE TENONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,728, dated April 10. 1888.

Application filed December 30,1887. Serial No. 259,386. (No model.)

To aZ Z whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that I, WILLIAM F. MORTON,

[residing at New Haven, in the county of New ence being had to the accompanying drawings,

which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to an improved method of forming compressed spoke-tenons, the object being to compress and harden the wood without injury to its fibers and without'the production of any burr upon the tenon.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a method of forming compressed tenons, consisting in simultaneously subjecting the entire surfaces of both sides and both edges of a tenon-blank to compression applied directly to them.

My invention further consists in a method of forming compressed tenons, consisting in simultaneously subjecting the entire surfaces of both sides and both edges of a tenon-blank to compression applied directly to the sides of the blank in one direction and directly to the edges of the blank in a diametrically-opposite direction.

My invention further consists in a method offorming tenons,consisting in simultaneously subjecting the entire surfaces of both sides and both edges of a tenon-blank to direct compression and keeping the said surfaces completely confined from the be inning to the end of the operation.

One form of mechanism for carrying out my improved method is shown by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a View of such machine in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bed thereof with the operating lever and the uprights of the press in transverse section. Fig. 3 is a view of the machine,in vertical longitudinal section, on the line a b of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows c c of thatfigurc. Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken view, in vertical transverse section, on the line d e of Fig. 2. Fig. 5. is a detached reverse plan View of the stationary edge die. Fig. 6 is a detached plan view of the clamping -block. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detached plan view of the movable beveled side die, the spring thereof, and the die-block, such parts being connected together. Fig. 8 is a similar detached plan view of such die. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the die-block. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the spring. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view, in elevation, of the movable edge die and the carrier and the spring-retaining block thereof. Fig. 12 is a similar view of the carrier with the said edge die removed. Fig. 13 isa similar detached view, in reverse elevation, of the movable edge die. Fig. 14 is a similar detached view of the spring thereof. Fig. 15 is a similar detached plan view of the spring retaining-block. Fig. 16 is a broken view, in side elevation, of a spoke having a tenon-blank. Fig. 17 is a similar edge view of the spoke and the blank. Fig. 18 is an end view of the spoke and blank. Fig. 19 is aside View of the spoke, showing the compressed tenon produced under my invention. Fig. 20 is an edge view of such spoke and tenon, and Fig. 21 is an end view thereof.

My improved machine, as herein shown, is provided with side dies, A and B, and edge dies, C and D, such dies being grouped to inclose a tenonblank, E, gradually widening both edge- Wise and flatwise from its inner to its outer end, as shown by Figs. 16, 17, and 18 of the drawings, and compressed by the dies mentioned to form a tenon having flat sides F F, a fiat face, G, and a tapering back, H, as shown by Figs. 19, 20, and 21 of the drawings. The side die A is horizontally movable and normally exposes a working-surface of snfficient area to completely cover one side of a tenonblank, such working-surface being ribbed or corrugated, so as to indent that side of the blank which is in contact with it, and thus increase the capacity of the tenon for holding glue. The inner end I of the die is beveled to conform to the taper of the back H of the tenon. Its outer end is cut away, as at J, (see Figs. 4, 7 and 8,) to receive the spring K, as shown. An adjustable die-block, L, also having its inner end M beveled to conform to the taper of the back H of the tenon, supports the said die A, the two parts being dovetailed together, (see Fig. 3,) so as to permit the die formed in the inner end of the said carrier E,

to move freely upon the die-block.

Slots N N, located at the rear end of the dieblock, receive the opposite ends of the spring K, which pushes the die A inward, so thatits beveled end normally overhangs, the beveled end of the die-block. A screw, 0, (see Fig. 4,) entering the die-block from the lower face thereof, extends into the elongated slot P, formed in the lower face of the die and limits the sliding movement of the same.

The stationary edge die 0, forming the face G of the tenon, is provided with a flat working-face, Q, and with a guiding-extension, R, projecting forward and aiding in the introduction of the blanks between the dies and forming a bearing for, and thus protecting the adjacent shoulder of the two shoulders S S (see Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive) of the spoke T. A longitudinal recess, U, formed in the lower face of this die 0, adapts it to be set over the die A, so as to clear the same and to rest upon the projecting edges of the die-block L, as clearly shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, whereby the said side die is left free to move back and forth in the recess; also, by setting the die 0 over .the die A and resting the former upon the die-block L the said parts are coupled together as against relative lateral displacement. The said die 0 is also provided at its outer end with a vertical opening, V, as shown.

A clamping-block, W, provided with an extension,X,and with an upright threaded stud, Y, which is carried by such extension, is se-. cured to the bed Z of the press to which the invention is applied, the said extension Xentering the outer end of the recess U in the die 0, and the stud Y passing upward through the opening V (see Figs. 4 and 5) in the rear of the die. A nut, A, applied to the projecting upper end of the said stud Y, screws down upon the upper face of the die C and clamps the same and the die-block L together and both to the bed of the press. The described construction adapts the side die A, the edge die 0, and the die-block L to be vertically adjusted by means to be hereinafter described.

The movable edge die D, forming the tapering back H of the tenon, is provided upon its inner face with an elongated horizontal slot, 13, and an open recess, 0, parallel therewith, and upon its forward edge with a finger, D, forming a bearing for the adjacentshoulder of the spoke. This die is mounted for free vertical movement and at an angle conforming to the bevel of the inner ends of the die A and the die-block L upon the inner end of a carrier, E, the two parts being dovetailed together, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings. A spring, F,located in the recess 0, aforesaid, normally supports the die D in a position of suflicient elevation above the working-face of the die A to expose a working-face of sufficient area to completely cover one edge of any tenon-blank. A retaining-block, G, having its inner edge slotted to form the horizontal shoulders H and I, is secured by a screw, J, in a recess, K,

as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings. The shoulder H of this block enters the slot B in the rear face of the die D, which is limited in the range ofits vertical movement by the engagement of the upper and lower walls of such slot with the said shoulder, while the shoulder 1 of the said block enters the recess 0 of the die and supports the spring F in place.

The side die 13 effects the flatwise compression of the blank. It is adapted in the area of its working-face to cover one side of any tenon-blank, such face being ribbed or corrugated to indent the blank to increase the capacity for the resultant tenon for retaining glue. It works against the working-face of the stationary edge die 0 and engages with the upper edge of the movable edge die D, which it retires against the spring F, to expose the blank for flatwise compression. It is secured to the gate L of the press, whereby it is reciprocated and advanced upon the blank.

The edgewise compression of the blank is effected by the movable edge die D, the carrier E of which is attached to a carriage,M, sliding horizontally in a groove, N, formed in the bed of the press and attached by a link, 0, to an upright operating-lever, P, actuated by the engagement of its upper end with a cam, Q, mounted upon the shaft R of the press, the lower end of such lever being fulcrumed to a rod, S, passing horizontally through the bed of the press and through a wheel, T, by which it is adjusted back and forth to regulate and conform the throw of the carriage to the adjustment of the die-block L. A movable bed, U, supporting the said die-block, and hence the dies A and O, is mounted transversely in the bed of the machine and provided with an inclined under face, V, bearing upon a similar face, W, therein, the said bed being also provided with a threaded stem, X, passing through a threaded sleeve, Y, mounted in bearings Z,'and turned to advance or retract the bed U by a hand-wheel, A all as shown by Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive, illustrate the work of the machine. The blank shown is wedgeshaped in form, and gradually widens both edgewise and flatwise from its inner to its outer end. The tenon formed from such blank has flat indented sides, a flat face constituting its forward edge and a taper back constituting its 'rear edge. Its tendency is to resume its blank form, and this it will do in a measure after it has been driven, with the obvious result of locking the spoke in the hub.

Having described the machine in detail, I will now set forth its operation in carrying out my improved method.

In the first place, the dies are adjusted to the work to be done. For thin tenon-blanks the nut A is unscrewed and the movable bed U is retracted, whereby the die-block L and the dies A and C will be elevated. For thick blanks the said bed is moved forward, permitting the said die-block and dies to drop to a lower level. For narrow blanks the die-block L, and hence the die A, which is connected with it, are moved inward or toward the die D, and hence transversely on the movable bed, while for wide blanks the die-block and the die A are moved outward and away from the said die D. After the dies have been set, as described, the nut A is screwed down upon the die 0, whereby the die-block L and the die 0 are clamped together and to the bed of the press. The throw of the carriage E is then regulated so that in its forward movement it will advance the die D to the beveled edge of the die-block. 7 When the dies are set ready to compress a tenon-blank, they will completely inclose both of its sides and edges, the overhanging inner edge of the die A taking in the excess in the width of the blank over the width of the tenon to be formed from it, and the extension of the die D above the face of the die A taking in the thickness on the blank over the thickness of the said resultant tenon. \Vhen the press is operated, the die B descends vertically for the flatwise compression of the blank, and the die D simultaneously advances horizontally for the edgewise compression thereof, the die B striking the die D and pushing the same downward to expose the blank for fiatwise compression, and the die D engaging with the die A and pushing it outward to expose the blank for edgewise compression.

The retirement of the dies D and A, as described, for the exposure of the blank is effected in pace with the progression of the compression thereof, whereby both of the sides and both of the edges of the blank are perfectly confined from the beginning to the end of the operation, so that the blank is condensed without any of the strain upon its fibers which results when a blank is compressed with its sides and edges under only partial confinement, and due to a crowding of the fibers toward the point where there is relief from pressure. Such crowding of the fibers is avoided by completely confining the sides and edges of the blank during its compression, and applying that compression in two diametrically-opposite directions simultaneously. It is obvious that under my improved method no burr is produced upon the resultant tenon, which is hardened and reduced in size without in any way injuring or impairing the life of its fibers.

The tenon and tenon-blank described herein have been made the subject of another application, filed April 23, 1887, No. 235,8 36, and no claim to such tenon or tenon-blank is relinquished herein.

Having fully described myinventiomwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A method of forming compressed tenons, consisting in simultaneously subjecting the entire surfaces of both sides and both edges of a tenon-blank to compression applied directly to them, substantially as set forth.

2. A method of forming compressed tenons, consisting in simultaneously subjecting the entire surfaces of both sides and both edges of a tenon-blank to compression applied directly to the sides of the blank in one direction and directly to the edges of the blank in a diametrically-opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

3. Amethod of forming compressed 'tenons, consisting in simultaneously subjecting the entire surfaces of both sides and both edges of a tenon-blank to direct compression and in keeping the said surfaces completely confined from the beginning to the end of the operation, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM F. MORTON.

vVitnesses:

CHAs. B. SHUMWAY, WILLIAM HARRISON. 

